Manon Rhéaume facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manon Rhéaume |
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Rhéaume in 2010
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| Born | February 24, 1972 Beauport, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 lb (59 kg; 9 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goaltender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caught | Left | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | QMJHL Trois-Rivières Draveurs IHL Atlanta Knights Las Vegas Thunder Flint Generals Port Huron Icehawks WWHL Minnesota Whitecaps Austria VEU Feldkirch RHI New Jersey Rockin' Rollers Ottawa Loggers Sacramento River Rats ECHL Knoxville Cherokees Nashville Knights Tallahassee Tiger Sharks WCHL Reno Renegades NHL Tampa Bay Lightning (preseason) |
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| National team |  Canada |
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| Playing career | 1992–2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Manon Rhéaume (born February 24, 1972) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. She made history many times in her career. She was the first woman to play in a game in any major North American professional sports league. This happened during a preseason game for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.
In 1992, Rhéaume signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. She played in exhibition games in 1992 and 1993. She also played five years in professional minor leagues for seven different teams. Manon was a key player for the Canada women's national ice hockey team. She won gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship in 1992 and 1994. She also earned a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
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Manon Rhéaume's Hockey Journey
Manon Rhéaume was the first woman to play in the NHL. She started playing for a boys' team in 1984. This was at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. Later, in the 1991–92 season, she joined the Trois-Rivières Draveurs. This made her the first woman to play in a men's major junior hockey game.
Playing in the NHL
In 1992, Rhéaume tried out for the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was a big moment, as she was the first woman to try out for an NHL team. She played one period in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues. She also played in another preseason game in 1993 against the Boston Bruins.
International Success
Also in 1992, Manon was chosen for the Canada women's national ice hockey team. She helped her team win gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship in 1992 and 1994. She was named to the All-Star team in both those years. In 1998, she won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Professional Minor Leagues
After her NHL tryouts, Rhéaume signed with the Atlanta Knights in 1992. This team was part of the IHL. Her first game with them made her the first woman to play in a regular season professional game. Between 1992 and 1997, she played for seven different teams. These included the Atlanta Knights, Knoxville Cherokees, Nashville Knights, Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, Las Vegas Thunder, and Reno Renegades. She played a total of 24 games. During her time in Atlanta, she wrote her book, Manon: Alone in Front of the Net. She first stopped playing professional hockey in 1997.
Life After Playing Hockey
After retiring from playing, Manon Rhéaume stayed involved in hockey. From 1999 to 2000, she was a goaltending coach. She worked with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey team.
In 2000, she started working in business. She was a marketing director for Mission Hockey. For three years, she helped create and promote hockey equipment for girls. Later, she worked in marketing for other hockey organizations.
Returning to the Ice
In 2008, Rhéaume played again for the Minnesota Whitecaps. This team was in the Western Women's Hockey League. In 2009, she helped them reach the finals of the Clarkson Cup, a Canadian women's hockey championship. She also played a game for the Flint Generals IHL team in 2009.
Recent Activities
In 2015, Manon Rhéaume took part in the first game of the National Women's Hockey League. She dropped the puck for the ceremonial opening faceoff.
In October 2021, she was hired by Bally Sports Detroit. She became an analyst and reporter for the Detroit Red Wings. In 2022, she was a goaltender for the NHL All-Star game's Breakaway Challenge. In July 2022, the Los Angeles Kings hired her as a hockey operations and prospect advisor.
Personal Life
Manon Rhéaume was married to Gerry St. Cyr, who was also a hockey player. They have a son named Dylan. Dylan is also a goaltender, just like his mother. He has played for college teams like the Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame.
Manon later married her second husband. They have a son named Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen. Dakoda plays hockey as a defenseman. He was drafted by the Sarnia Sting in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. He now plays for the Michigan Wolverines in college.
In 2008, Rhéaume started the Manon Rhéaume Foundation. This foundation gives scholarships to young women. Manon is also the older sister of Pascal Rhéaume, who used to play in the NHL.
Awards and Honours
- 1992 All-Star Team, Top Goaltender
- 1994 All-Star Team, Top Goaltender
Notable Achievements
- First girl to play at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
- First woman to play in a major junior game (1991–92 Trois-Rivières Draveurs in the QMJHL).
- First woman to play in a National Hockey League game (September 23, 1992). This also made her the first woman to play in any major North American professional sports league.
- First woman to win a game in professional roller hockey.
See also
- Ann Meyers, a woman who signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers in 1979
